Compressor valve



NOV. 25, 1941. A, E, KARLBERG 2,264,136

COMPRESSOR VALVE Filed Nov. 27, 1940 /ZUe/YO/ roLcLEJ-(arlb ery Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED sra'ras COMPRESSOR VALVE ics- Arvid E. Karlberg, Chicago, lll., assigner to Chi- Chicago, Ill., a corporacago Seal Company tion of Illinois Application November 27, 1940, Serial No. 367,422

8 Claims.

This invention pertains in general to vapor compression machines such as are now most universally employed in the usually small household refrigerator, and where the media used--such as ammonia, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, etc., exists only as a gas or vapor at atmospheric pressures and ordinary temperatures, but becomes liquied when compressed to a suiiiciently high pressure, and where the heat absorbed in reevaporating the liquid at a reduced pressure constitutes the refrigerating effect.

Compressors of this type draw the gas from an evaporator and discharge it under pressure into a condenser and receiver for distribution under a pressure usually eighty to one hundred and twenty pounds per square inch, and as the compressor is commonly intermittent in its action, a valve is interposed on its discharge side to eliminate back pressure and rectrict the flow of uid to one direction only.

My present invention relates in general to valves used for this purpose, and particularly to check valves known as the poppet type, having a metal disk or diaphragm, pressure operated, with a single seat and of a balanced design wherein the port size, timing and lift are proportioned to obtained high volumetric eiliciency; and specically to a diaphragm valve which is free to move laterally and independently of its stem, easily disassembled for replacement or repair, and of materials adapted to resist the corrosive eiects of the moisture laden gas being compressed, and has for its objects:

The provision of a replaceable valve seat and port which in itself is packed and sealed against leakage by means of a separable bonnet;

The incorporation of a separable and unattached valve disk or diaphragm, an independently removable valve stem, bonnet, and valve spring, respectively;

The installation ci a seal or packing ring and a valve stem which are highly resistant to the corrosive action of the gas;

The making of the valve annulus to a true cylindrical surface to provide for equal increments of flow through a relatively large port and low lift;

To supply a valve spring which will eliminate any tendency to vibrate or surge and yet adequately take up the Valve lash; and

To render suiiicient a balanced design of valve, any portion or part of which may be removed and replaced without particular skill or employment of expensive and time consuming tools or equipment, and to thus facilitate the servicing of the compressor.

My invention has these and other objects such as are hereinafter explained in detail and which are apparent or may be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing (one sheet) which illustrates a preierred embodiment of my invention, it being manifest that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departure from the spirit o the claims forming a part hereof.

And as similar reference characters'refer respectively to similar parts, so it is to be understood that the words I use are words'of description and not of limitation.

In the drawing: Y

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a pair of valves assembled to the valve plate or body;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through one valve taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and y Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the various parts of the valve'shown separated and in their relative positions prior to assembly.

In its illustrated form, a flat and substantially rectangular valve plate 5, is provided with a plurality of apertures 6, through which are adapted to pass cap screws for securing the plate to the compressor housing (not shown), and Which plate forms the body portion for one, two, or more Valvestwo being illustrated at Fig. 1. It is this plate which is rst bored out to form a valve port l, and then counterbcred at 8 to receive and partially enclose a valve cylinder 9, which constitutes a relatively cylindrical shell, open at the top and provided with a bottom wall IE, having a port opening II therein adapted to register with the Valve port l, and around which opening Il is provided araised valve annulus or valve seat I2, the top surface of which is ground true and even. Between the bottom of the cylinder 9 and the top surface of the bottom of the counterbore 8 is interposed a resilient and com pressible ring washer I3 forming a sealing member which may be made from any one oimany suitable materials including fiber and which are not subject to the corrosive action of the gas or liquid being compressed. The cylinder 9 has a `snug sliding iit in the bore 8 of the valve body so that it may be readily inserted or removed for replacement or repair. The cylinder is drawn down and rmly held in its assembledV position and against the packing ring or sealing member I3, by means of a yoke or bonnet Ill which comprises a substantially rectilinear bar long enough to span the cylinder end and extend therebeyond on each side thereof to where the outer ends are bolted down to the plate by means of cap screws I5--I5 which pass through openings I6 at each end of the bonnet respectively. This bonnet has a centrally located depending hub or integral flange I1 extending downwardly into the valve cylinder to serve as a bumper, and as such, limits the lift of the valve. The hub II is axially bored at I8 to `receive a reciprocally mounted valve stem I9, which is preferably but not necessarily made of hard rubber, iiber, or other material suitably resistant to the corrosive action of the gas. The overall length of the valve stem I9 is slightly greater than the depth of the flange I'I and extends both above and below the outer faces thereof as shown, the upper end being in constant contact with the under side of the outer end of a ilat leaf spring 2D, the opposite end whereof is held in assembled position by means of one of the cap screws I5.

-A relatively thin flat metal disk or diaphragm 2I, slightly smaller in diameter than the inside of the valve cylinder, and preferably made from a tough, strong and pliable steel with a smooth and finished surface, serves as a disk valve, and y trated at Fig. 2, being held there under the pressure exerted by means of the spring 2i! through the valve stem I9.

In operation, the compressed gas is usually intermittently forced up through the valve port 'I and against the under side of the valve 2|, and as the pressure increases, the effect of the spring 20 is overcome which permits the valve to rise from its seat, thus allowing the compressed gas to pass. When the pressure is relieved, the valve is returned to its seat by means of the spring 20, and in addition, when the pressure on top exceeds the pressure from the under side of the valve, this additional pressure tends to seal the valve.

Oftentimes when a gas compressor has re- Y mained idle for an unusually long period, a considerable amount of liquid accumulates inthe compressor. `When starting under these conditions, a slug of liquid may be driven through the valve; this ordinarily is a serious condition,

and the usual valve is damaged by having 'to take this excessive load. That is, the valve may be warped, or the valve and integral valve stem or guides are thrown out of alignment and thereafter the valve fails to seat properly. I have overcome this possibility by making the valve and valve stem in two separate units. And Yit will be noted that my valve, per se, is at liberty to vmove laterally at will, and to seat or find its own seat-it is not restricted to a single and positively one and only seat.

rThe ease of assembly of my valve organism will be readily apparent. And as the servicing of small household refrigerators requires that constant care and attention be given "to the compressor valves, this becomesan important con-J sideration in their design. Here the entire assembly is held in place and sealed against leakage by means ofbut two ordinary-cap screws, which, when removed, permit the easy and simple withdrawal of not only the valve and its attendant mechanism, but also the valve cylinder, yvalve seat, and the packing ring and :sealing member for simple replacement and repair. When reassembled, the drawing-down on the cap screws forces the valve cylindertightly. against andpartially compresses the sealing member against the bottom of the bore of the valve body, thus effectively sealing the entire organism within the valve body against leakage.

What I claim as new is:

1. A replaceable valve and valve seat for use in association with a compressor, comprising a valve body having a port opening, a valve seat removably mounted in said body and having an opening in registry with said port, a sealing member interposed between the valve seat and said body and having an opening registering with the opening in said body and the said port, a valve bonnet carried by said body for holding said valve seat against said seal and to said body, a valve disk interposed between said valve seat and said bonnet, `and when quiescent, adapted to seat on said valve seat, a valve stem separate from the valve and adapted to engage said valve disk, said stem being movably mounted in said bonnet, said valve disk being movable with and with respect to said stem, and resilient means engaging one end only of said valve stem for exerting a pressure on said valve disk.

2. A replaceable Valve and valve seat as per claim l, wherein the valve seat is an integral part of a substantially cylindrical shell or valve cylinder which is open at the top and has a bottom Wall provided with a valve port adapted to register with the port in the valve body, and wherein the -Valve seat is an annulus raised above the top surface of the bottom wall of the cylinder and circumvents said valve port, the top edge of said cylinder being engaged by said bonnet so that upon the removal of the bonnet, said cylinder may be slidably removed from said valve body for replacement and repair.

3. A replaceable valve and valve seat as ,per claim 1, wherein said valve bonnet is provided with an integral bumper `projecting, into said body and adapted to limit the lift of saidvalve disk.

4. A replaceable valve and valve seat as per claim l, wherein both said sealing member and said valve stem are each constructed of corrosive resisting materials, and wherein 'said sealing member is resilient and subject to compression by the pressure exerted `througl'i said valve-seat by said bonnet.

5. A replaceable valve and valve seat for Ause in association with a compressor, comprising a valve body having a port opening, a valve-cylinder open at the top .and 'having an integral bottom wall removably mounted and enclosed within said valve body. and having an 4opening inthe bottom wall thereof 'in registry with said port, avalve seat-consisting of an annulus integral with the bottom wall of said cylinder and raised above the top surface thereof and circumventing said valve port, a compressiblesealing member interposed between thel bottom-wall of said cylinder and said valve body, a valve bonnet removably .affixed to said body, the top portion of said cylinder being engaged by said bonnet to exert a pressure on said sealing member, a valve diaphragm interposed between said valve seat and said bonnet, and when quiescent, adapted to seat on said valve seat, abumper integral with said bonnet adapted to limit the lift of said diaphragm, a valve stem independent of said valve and freely slidable in said bonnet, said valve diaphragm being movable with and with respect Ato said stem, resilient .means en- .gaging the .end of said valve stern for exerting ,a pressure on said diaphragm, Yand mechanical Ameans for removably securing .said bonnet toisaid valve body whereby upon its removal said diaphragm and valve seat assembly may be slidably removed from said valve body for replacement and repair.

6. A replaceable valve and valve seat for use in association with a compressor embodying a valve body having an opening therethrough, one end of the opening being enlarged in diameter to provide an inwardly extending annular ange having a port therethrough, a valve cylinder having a plane outer periphery, said cylinder being open at one end and having an integral bottom wall, said cylinder being removably mounted and being enclosed within the opening of said body and itself having an opening in the bottom wall in registry with said port, packing abutting said flange and disposed between Said ange and the bottom wall of said cylinder, a valve seat consisting of an annulus integral with the bottom of said cylinder, projecting thereabove and encompassing said port, a valve bonnet removably affixed to said body and engaging the end of the cylinder to exert pressure on the cylinder to compress said packing against said flange, a disk valve resting upon said valve seat, a stem separate from said valve, said stem loosely passing through said bonnet and engaging said valve, and resilient means supported by the bonnet and engaging the stem and tending normally to maintain said valve seated, said valve being movable with and with respect to said stem.

7. A replaceable valve and valve seat for use in association with a compressor embodying a valve body having an opening therethrough, one end of the opening being enlarged in diameter to provide an inwardly extending annular flange having a port therethrough, a valve cylinder having a plane outer periphery, said cylinder being open at one end and having an integral bottom wall, said cylinder being removably mounted and being enclosed within the opening of said body and itself having an opening in the bottom wall in registry with said port, packing abutting said flange and disposed between said ange and the bottom Wall of said cylinder. a valve seat consisting of an annulus integral with the bottom of said cylinder, projecting thereabove and encompassing said port, a valve bonnet removably aixed to said body and engaging the end of the cylinder to exert pressure on the cylinder to compress said packing against said flange, a disk Valve resting upon said valve seat, a stem separate from said valve, said stem loosely passing through said bonnet and engaging said valve, and resilient means supported by the bonnet and engaging the stem and tending normally to maintain said valve seated, said valve being movable with and with respect to said stem, a portion of said bonnet projecting into said cylinder and terminating short of said valve seat and operating as an abutment for the valve to limit its opening movement.

8. A replaceable valve and valve seat for use in association with a compressor embodying a valve body having an opening therethrough, one end of the opening being enlarged in diameter to provide an inwardly extending annular ange having a port therethrough, a valve cylinder having a plane outer periphery, said cylinder being open at one end and having an integral bottom wall, said cylinder being removably mounted and being enclosed within the opening of said body and itself having an opening in the bottom wall in registry with said port, packing abutting said ange and disposed between said flange and the bottom wall of said cylinder, a valve seat consisting of an annulus integral with the bottom of said cylinder, projecting thereabove and encompassing said port, a valve bonnet removably afxed to said body and engaging the end of the cylinder to exert pressure on the cylinder to compress said packing against said flange, a disk valve resting upon said valve seat, a stem separate from said valve, said stem loosely passingv through said bonnet and engaging said valve, and. resilient means supported by the bonnet and engaging the stem and tending normally to main-Y tain said valve seated, said valve being movable: with and with respect to said stem, the saidresilient means embodying a leaf spring mounted. upon the outer face of said bonnet and engaging,VV the end of said stem.

ARVID E. KARLBERG.. 

